The Duquesne City School District said that it will hold classes for seventh grade students this year for the first time in nearly a decade.

The district’s middle school students had attended schools in the West Mifflin Area or East Allegheny district since 2012, but officials said there was significant community desire to bring the students back to Duquesne. 

“We have heard repeatedly from our parents and families that our community’s children, especially those in elementary and middle grades, should attend school closer to home in Duquesne,” Superintendent Sue Mariani said in a statement. “We couldn’t be prouder at this moment to welcome these students to our school. We are bringing our kids home.”

Financial difficulties forced the district to close its high school and move its students in grades 9-12 to the West Mifflin Area of East Allegheny districts in 2007. Students in seventh and eighth grade followed them in 2012.

But district officials said plans for seventh grade students to return have been in the works for the past three years. The district had formed several focus groups and community listening sessions to answer questions about the plan.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education approved the addition of seventh grade students earlier this month, according to the district. The district said 44 students had enrolled in seventh grade for the 2021-22 school year.

Duquesne’s seventh grade students will take a variety of required courses and be able to select from several electives, including journalism and photography, game design, coding, sign language and band and chorus.  

The first day of school for students in grades 1-7 is Sept. 1. Students in PreK and kindergarten will return on Sept. 2.

All students will have the option of attending class in-person or through the Duquesne Virtual Academy, the district said.

Andrew Goldstein: agoldstein@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1352.

First Published: July 26, 2021, 9:36 p.m.